Effect of Apabetalone on Cardiovascular Events in Diabetes, CKD, and Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background and objectives CKD and type 2 diabetes mellitus interact to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events ( i.e. , cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stroke) and congestive heart failure. A maladaptive epigenetic response may be a cardiovascular risk driver and amenable to modification with apabetalone, a selective modulator of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain transcription system. We examined this question in a prespecified analysis of BETonMACE, a phase 3 trial. Design, setting, participants, & measurements BETonMACE was an event-driven, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing effects of apabetalone versus placebo on major adverse cardiovascular events and heart failure hospitalizations in 2425 participants with type 2 diabetes and a recent acute coronary syndrome, including 288 participants with CKD with eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 at baseline. The primary end point in BETonMACE was the time to the first major adverse cardiovascular event, with a secondary end point of time to hospitalization for heart failure. Results Median follow-up was 27 months (interquartile range, 20–32 months). In participants with CKD, apabetalone compared with placebo was associated with fewer major adverse cardiovascular events (13 events in 124 patients [11%] versus 35 events in 164 patients [21%]; hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.96) and fewer heart failure–related hospitalizations (three hospitalizations in 124 patients [3%] versus 14 hospitalizations in 164 patients [9%]; hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.86). In the non-CKD group, the corresponding hazard ratio values were 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.74 to 1.24) for major adverse cardiovascular events, and 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 1.27) for heart failure–related hospitalization. Interaction of CKD on treatment effect was P =0.03 for major adverse cardiovascular events, and P =0.12 for heart failure–related hospitalization. Participants with CKD showed similar numbers of adverse events, regardless of randomization to apabetalone or placebo (119 [73%] versus 88 [71%] patients), and there were fewer serious adverse events (29% versus 43%; P =0.02) in the apabetalone group. Conclusions Apabetalone may reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes who have a high burden of cardiovascular disease.